A Heartfelt Message

As we have been interacting more closely with parents during arrival and dismissal, I have made several observations and one really struck me over the past few days: It was cell phone usage. While a hands-free option for cell phones is the safest while driving, it goes a little beyond that. Sometimes its about perspective: “the grass is always greener on the other side” and other similar sentiments. Like many of you, as a working parent, I seldom have the privilege to battle traffic at my daughter’s school and be the one to pick her up or drop her off or for students who take the bus, it would be to be able to be the parent waiting at the bus stop. On the days that I can, I think I am more excited than she is. Yes, you read that correctly, I get excited about being the driver in congested traffic at a school. You may be thinking its because I don’t have to do it everyday, but in a way I do by being a part of it every day at our school.

I have watched how excited our students are as they yell out “There is my mom/dad” as soon as they see you pull up to Howard. Take advantage of that moment of excitement when you can to end your phone call if possible (some calls we have to take), let the children see your focus is on them when you pull up, and use the car ride to talk to them about their day. Getting my daughter to talk about school is like “pulling teeth” as they say. I have found some of the questions listed on the websites below to be helpful for me.

P.S. While we tend to focus on what’s happening in front of the school, I want to also thank the parents who are out there at the bus stops in the neighborhood watching out for our students. While we don’t see you, we know you’re there! We appreciate you! Seeing the mom I pass on Cherry Hill near Military in the morning makes me smile as I drive by.

2 thoughts on “A Heartfelt Message”

Beautifully said!!!
As a social worker, too often I see parents and some grandparents on their phones when they could be spending this precious time with their child/children. Thank you for having the courage to start this conversation.